Door lock



May 28, 1957 J. n. ROETHEL 2,793,898

DOOR LOCK Filed July 2, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TOR. @J/Zw /vf 2f@ afk-g lll May 28, 1957 J. H. ROETHEL 2,793,898

DOOR LOCK Filed July 2, 1949 2 sheets-'sheet 2 q-LL- MW United States Patent p DOOR LOCK John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Roethel liln gneering Corporation, Detroit, Mich., n corporation .of Michigan Application July 2, 1949, Serial No. 102,833

16 Claims. (Cl. 292-280) I proved door latch mechanism for a swinging door having a rotatable latch device, such as a rotary multi-headed bolt, controlled by means of :a pivoted detent or the like, the latch mechanism being provided with improved easily operated release lever means operated from the outside of the door, as by means of a push button, for disengaging the detent from `the latch device together with improved inner manually operable means for blocking the release lever means so las to prevent disengagement of the detent from the outside of the door. y

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention, herein illustrated by way of example, there is provided a rotatable latch device mounted on a support for the latch mechanism, said support comprising a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb :and having la ange extending angularly from the plate portion. An outer manually operable lever is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the plate portion, this lever extending generally vertically and being provided with Iavblocking portion. The latch mechanism also comprises detent means engageable with the latch device for holding it in door 'latching position, the detent means also being pivotally mounted on the plate portion but being adapted to swing independently of the lever. The lever at one side of the pivotal axis thereof is provided with a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of the detent means to eabut the same at the same side of the pivotalaxes of the lever and detent means upon swinging movement of the lever in one rotative direction thereby to pivotally move the detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to the latch device. Outer manually operable means is also provided in the latch mechanism which is cooperable with the lever at the other side of the pivotal taxis thereof for swinging the same in said one rotative direction. Means is also provided in the latch mechanism for blocking the lever to prevent actuation thereof from the outside of the door. In the present embodiment this means comprises a blocking member movably mounted on the support and having blocking means for cooperation with the blocking portion on the lever. This blocking member is moved by inner manually operable means so as to dispose its blocking means m opposing relation to the blocking portion of the lever thereby blocking swinging movement of the llever in said one rotative direction so as to render the same ineffective -to move the detent means out of holding position with vrespect to the latch device.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being i ce 2 had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an automoi bile body equipped with door locks constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantially through lines 2--2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating a door lock constructed in accordance with one embodiment of :the invention.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially through lines 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation taken in the direction of the arrow numbered 4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 isa section taken substantially through lines 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows. y Fig. 6 is a lfragmentary detail section taken substantially through lines 6-6 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.l

Fig. 7 isa fragmentary top plan view partly in section.

Fig. 8 is a view, in part similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the-slide in blocking position.

Fig. 9 is a view, in part'similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the manner in which the detent operates to restore the slide from the position shown in Fig. 8 to the position shown in Fig.A 2.

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary detail plan view illustrating the manner in which the thrust element on the lock cy1' inder stem may be adjusted.V

Fig. 1l is Ia view, in part similar to Fig. 2, illustrating .a modification.

- Fig. l2 is a view, in part similar to Fig. 3, illustrating another modification.

vBefore explaining in` detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Y

The latch device constructed in accordance with any one ofA the embodiments of the invention herein illus.- trated, by way of example, is s hown mounted on the door 19 of an automobile body having the usual outer and inner door panels 20 and 21, respectively. The inner door panel 21 terminates in a transverse jamb edge 22. facing the lixed jamb tace or edge 23 (Figs. 4 and 7)' of the door frame post or body pillar.

i The present latch device comprises a case plate 24 provided with screw bosses 24a by means of which the case plate is secured to the inner side of the jamb portion 22 of the door. The case plate terminates at its inner edge in a ange 25 facing the inner door panel 21. The llatch device is preferably provided with a rotatable toothed latch or bolt 26 positioned at the outer face of the case plate 24, this Ilatch or bolt having an integral projecting shaft or shank 27 extending through an aperture in the case plate which is formed with a bearing for the bolt shank. The inner :end of the shank 27 of the bolt is attened and extended through a correspondingly shaped aperture in :a rotatable toothed detent engaging member or ratchet member 28 and is riveted thereto.

lThe rotatable latch 26, yas shown in Fig. 5, is formed 'with a number of radially projecting tooth-like projections 26a, preferably six, which are spaced equally around the periphery of the latch so as to provide in effect a gear type latch or bolt. The ratchet member 28 isalso formed around its periphery with a number of tooth-like abutments or projections 28a which correspond in number to the tooth-like projections 2641 ei the bolt. Pivotal-ly mounted on a shoulder rivet 29 secured to the case plate 24 is a swinging detent, pawl or dog which has la downwardly extending detent arm cooperable withuthe teeth or projections 28a of the ratchet member 28@ The detent arm 3d is :engageable with any one of the teeth 28a in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 9 to hold the ratchet member and hence the bolt 26 in locking position against rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. Extending from the outer part of the detent arm 30. in an outward and downward direction is a hooklike arm 31, this arm lying substantially in the plane of the ratchet member 28 and spaced outwardly therefrom. The detent is also provided with an inward-ly extending arm or extension 32. Thus, the detent in the embodiment herein shown is provided with three arms 30, 31 and 32, and is preferably `formed from la single piece of flat metal stock.

Associated with the detent is a vertically extending detent actuating or release lever 33 which is pivoted intermediate its ends upon a shoulder rivet or stud 34 secured tothe case plate. This lever has a lever arm 35 extending downwardly below the pivot 34 and terminating in a hook-like portion 35a which overlies the detent arm 31. The inner end of the hook-like projection 35a is embossed to form a curved lug 35b engaging the inner edge, 31a of the detent arm 31. By virtue of this construction the lever arm 35 and detent arm 31 are interconnected by means of the lug or projection 35b on the hook-like portion 35a engaging beneath an extended portion of the detent arm 30. The detent release lever 33 also has an upwardly extending lever arm 36 formed with an inwardly extending projecting portion 37. The upper end of the lever arm 36 is enlarged and fonmed with a widened flange 36a.

It will be seen that by swinging the upper end of the lever 33 toward the ilange portion 25, such as by means of a push button las later described, the lower end of the lever will be swung away from said flange portion thereby swinging the detent arm 3i) upwardly and out of latching engagement with the toothed latch `device 28. In this connection it will be noted that the lower end of the lever 33 has la part 35b, arranged in opposing relation to the part 31a of the detent so as to abut the same at the same, side of the pivotal axes Vat 34 and 29 of the lever and detent upon swinging movement of the lever in one rotative direction (clockwise in Fig. 2) thereby to pivotally move the detent in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to the latch device 28.

The detent, arm 30 is yieldingly urged toward the ratch- Y et plate 28 and the release lever 33 is similarly urged toward its normal position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a single coiled spring 38 anchored at its inner end to a retainer 39 lanced out of the case plate. This spring has a downwardly extending `arm 38a engageable with the upper edge of the detent arm 30 so as to yieldingly hold the arm in -latching engagement with a tooth 28a of the ratchet plate 28. Due to the interlocking connection between the hook portion 35a of the release lever 33 and the extension 31 of the detent :arm 30, the spring 38a will also function to urge the lever arm 35 inwardly and the lever arm 36 outwardly so as to maintain them in the normal non-operated position shown in Fig. 2. Thus, a single spring 38 is utilized to restore the detent land release lever to their normal positions. The spring 38 thus urges the upper lever arm 36 of the release lever 33 outwardly to a position governed by a stop 4l which is in the form of :a lug struck out from the case plate and po sitioned for engagement by the outer edge of the lever arm 36, as shown in Fig. 2. A light tanti-rattle spring 40 may be provided to hold the lever arm 36 against the stop 41 when the detent arm 30 is swung upwardly relative to the lever arm 35. The coiled spring 40 is suitably selected as to strength and has one arm connected 4 to the lever arrn 36 and the opposite end connected to the case plate 24.

The present latch device is preferably operated from the inside of the door through the medium of a remote control mechanism comprising a longitudinally shiftable draft link 42 which is pivoted `at 43 to the lower end of one arm 44a of a bell crank lever 44. This lever is pivoted on the shank of a shoulder rivet 45 secured to the case plate ange 25. The lever is provided with a projecting arm 44b overlying at its inner end the detent arm 32, see Figs. 2 and 3.

ln accordance with the present embodiments of the invention means is provided for restraining or blocking the detent release lever 33 `against operation from the outside of the door. This is accomplished in the present instance through the medium of a manually operable vertically shiftable slide 46 which may be shifted either by manually operable means `at the inside of the door or by a key operated lock from` the outside of the door. Ther slide 4,6 is embossed near its upper end to provide an outwardly extending channel shaped projection 47 which extends outwardly4 a suitable distance so as to permit'it to be positioned opposite the extension 37 on the release lever, las* shown in Fig. 8, when the slide is shifted to its upper limit. The slide 46 is guided on the case plate ange 25 by means of upper and lower headed guide studs or pins 48 and 49 secured to the case plate fla-nge and extending, respectively, through vertical guide, slots 50 and 51 in the slide.

In the embodiment of Figs. l to 4 inclusive the slide 46v may be shifted upwardly to its upper limit as determined by the guide studs 4S and 49 and thence returned to its normal position shown in Fig. 3 by means o f a lever 52 pivotally mounted on a stud G3 secured to the case plate flange 25. This lever has a projecting arm 52a terminating in a rounded end 52!) lying within the channel 47 on the slide. Pivoted at to the outer end of the lever 52 is a vertically shiftable rod or plunger 55 which extends upwardly through the garnish molding at the inner side of the glass panel of the door. This rod carries at its upper end a knob S6 which may be manipulated at the inside of the door to shift the `plunger vertically in either direction, thereby rocking the lever 52 and shifting the slide 46 vertically in either direction `between limits governed by the height of the guide slots 50 and 5,1. The slide 46 is yieldingly held and urged toward its; upper and lower limits of movement by means ofi a snapfover spring 57 of suitable strength attached at one end to the slide and at the opposite end to the case plate flange 25.

From the foregoing construction .it will be apparent that vby pressing the knob 56 downwardiy to rockl the lever 52, the slide 46 will be raised so as to position the channel shaped projection 47 opposite to and in blocking relation to the` extension 37 of the release lever 3.3. Conversely, when the knob 56 is pulled upwardly the slide 46 will be shifted downwardly thereby moving the projection 47 out of blocking relation to the release lever 33. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the slide 46 is notched or cut away at 58 near the lower edge thereof to provide clearance for the detent arm 32 which extends into this notched or recessed portion. Projecting outwardly from the lower edge of the notched portion 5S in the slide 46 is a tongue or lug 59 which, when the siide is shifted upwardly, is moved into position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, to underlie and substantially engage the lever arm 44h. Thus, with the slide in its uppermost position the lever arm 441i will contact the lug 59 when the lever arm is swung downwardly, thereby returning the slide to its lowermost position. The case plate flange 25 is provided with an aperture y6) to receive the inner end of the detent arm 32, see Figs. 2 and 3.

J In the present embodiment means is provided for returning the slide from its upper position to its lowerl position upon independent movement of the detent 30.

This is accomplished by making the height of the slot or notch 58 such that the lower edge 61 thereof will be positioned immediately beneath the detent arm 32 when the slide is shifted to its uppermost position. Thus, if the slide is shifted to its uppermost position when the door is open, as by operation of the rod 55, and if the door is then closed, the detent arm 32 will swing downwardly by reason of the pivotal motion imparted to the detent by the teeth 28a of the ratchet member consequent to rotative motion imparted to the bolt 26 by the striker or keeper. This downward motion of the detent arm 32 will cause the same to shift the slide 46 downwardly by engagement of the detent arm 32 with the lower edge 6l of the notch or slot 58 in the slide. Thus, the detent will restore the slide to its normal lowermost position and prevent the door from remaining locked in its closed position. This construction is usually provided in one or both of the front door locks which are equipped with key actuated mechanism for locking or unlocking the door from the outside. In connection with rear doors where it is usually desirable to provide a construction in which the door may be closed and set in locked position without the use of a key, the slot or notch 58 may be lengthened so as to extend to the bottom of the slide, thereby eliminating the edge 61 underlying the detent arm 32. With such construction the slide 46 may be shifted to its uppermost position when the door is open, and thereafter upon closing the door the slide will remain in its uppermost position since the detent arm 32 will freely swing within the slot 58 without causing return movement of the slide.

It will be understood that the draft link 42, forming part of the inside remote control mechanism, is shiftable by means of a suitable inside operator remotely located with respect to the latch mechanism. This operator may take the form of the usual spring controlled handle mounted on the inside of the door. When the handle is turned in one direction the draft link 42 will be shifted to the right in Fig. 3, thereby swinging the lever arm f 441: downwardly so as to depress the detent arm 32 and disengage the detent arm 30 lfrom the toothed ratchet member 2S. This operation may be performed irrespective of the position of the slide 46 since the detent, as viewed in Fig. 2, may be swung in a clockwise direction relative to the release lever arm 35. As previously described, the downward movement of the lever arm 44h will restore the slide 46 to its normal lowermost position by engagement of the lever arm with the lug S9 on the slide.

The present construction of the latch mechanism, as shown in Fig. l2, is such as to permit the slide 46 to be shifted upwardly and downwardly by means of the lever arm 44]). This may be accomplished by utilizing an inside door handle which may be swung in opposite directions. Thus, when the inside handle is swung in one direction it will shift the draft link 42 to the left in Fig. l2, thereby raising the lever arm 44h. As this lever arm swings upwardly it will engage a lug 62 lanced out of the slide 46 and thereby raise the slide to its blocking position shown in Fig. 8. Upon swinging the inside door handle in the opposite direction the lever arm 44!) will be depressed, thereby returning the slide to its normal position shown in Fig. l2 by engagement of the lever arm with the lug 59 on the slide. When the latch mechanism is equipped with an inside door handle of the foregoing type adapted to raise and lower the slide 46 through engagement of the lever arm 44h alternatively with the projections 62 and 59 on the slide, the lever 52, plunger or rod 55 and knob 56, shown in Fig. 3, may be dispensed with.

In the present embodiments of the invention a push or plunger type outside operator is provided for swinging the detent release lever 33 so as to raise the detent arm 30 out of engagement with the teeth 28a of the ratchet member 28 to permit the door to be opened. A handle 63 is rigidly secured to the outside door panel 20, this handle having at one end a transverse opening 63a to receive a push button 64 which is slidable in and out within the end of the handle between predetermined limits. The push button 64 is held within the opening 63a against rotation by means of upper and lower keys 65 fitting into keyways 66 in the handle. Interposed between the push button and a cover plate 63 fastened by screws to the handle 63 is a light helical spring 67 which serves to return the push button to its normal position shown in Fig. 2.

In the present embodiments illustrated in Figs. l to 4 inclusive and 6 to l2 inclusive, the push button 64 is equipped with a key controlled cylinder lock 69 and associated means for raising and lowering the slide 46. Such key controlled means for 'shifting the slide is usually embodied in one or both of the front door locks of an automobile body but is usually omitted from the locks used on the rear doors. The lock cylinder 69 is of conventional type extending through a hole in the push button and having the usual spring pressed locking pawls 69a for normally locking the cylinder 69 to the push button against relative rotation. By inserting the key 70 into the lock cylinder the pawls are retracted and the key may be turned approximately a quarter turn to turn the lock cylinder within the push button. Upon turning the key in the reverse direction to normal position it may be withdrawn vthereby permitting the locking pawls 69a to be projected into position to lock the cylinder to the push button. The lock cylinder 69 is fixed to the push button against relative transverse movement as illustrated in Fig. 2. Hence, when the push button is shifted in` wardly and outwardly the lock cylinder will travel with the push button. Y

Fixed to and projecting from the lock cylinder 69 is a flat metal stem or shaft 71 which passes freely through an aperture 68a in the cover plate 68 and an elongated aperture 72 in the flange 36a of the release lever 33. The stem 71 extends across the inside of the case plate 24 and the inner end of the stem is slidingly keyed within a correspondingly shaped flat hole 73 in a bearing element 74, see Fig. 6. The length of the hole 73 is sufiicient to acconn'nodate the full movement of the stem 71, when the push button is pushed inwardly, so as to pre-v vent the end of the stem striking the panel 21. The ele-V ment 74, which thus supports and pilots the end ofthe stem 71, is rotatable Within a hole in the case plate flange 25 and is held against dislodgement therein, as by an annular shoulder engaging one face of the flange and a snap-on retainer spring 75 engaging the other face.

The bearing element 74 has an integral laterally projecting crank arm 76 carrying at its outer end a pin 77. This pin normally projects beneath a ange 78 on lthe upper end of the slide 46. Below this flange and suit ably spaced therefrom is a lug or tongue 79 lanced out of the slide 46. Adjustably mounted on the stem 71 is a thrust or actuating element 80 for the lever 33, this element having a flat sided hole through which the stem 71 extends and within which the stem has a sliding fit. The thrust element 80 may be secured to the stern 71 in any fixed adjusted position by means of a set screw 81 threaded through a tapped hole in the element 80 and engageable with the top at side of the stem. Upon pushing the button 64 inwardly to shift the stem 71 in` wardly the element 80 by engagement with the flange 36a on lever 33 will swing the lever and disengage the detent arm 30 from the toothed member 28.

It is desirable for efficient and safe operation of the latch mechanism that the thrust element 80 substantially contact the ange 36a of the lever 33 when the latter is. in its normal retracted position shown in Fig. 2. If after installation the element 80 is positioned too far to the right in Fig. 2, it will hold the lever arm 36 inwardly of its normal position resulting in holding the detent arm raised .somewhat and out of full engagement with a tooth 28a 'of the member 28. On .the other hand, if the element 80 is positioned, after installation, too far to the left in Fig. 2, there may be suicient lost motion to prevent the thrust element, upon pushing in the push button 64, from swinging the lever 33 suiciently to disengage the detent arm 30 from a tooth 28a on the ratchet member.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the relation of the outside operator, such as push button 64, to the lever 33 after installation of the handle 63 and latch mechanism on the door is important in ensuring safe and 'efficient operation of the latch mechanism. Due to manufacturing tolerances, inaccuracies and variations not only in lthe handle assembly and latch mechanism but also `in the door panel structure, it is important that provision be made to compensate lfor such tolerances, inaccuracies and variations so that a predetermined operative relationship can be ensured between the outside operator and the detent release means. This may be readily accomplished in accordance with the present invention by enabling adjustment of the element 80 longitudinally of the stern 71 from the outside of the door jamb after installation of the handle assembly and latch mechanism on the door. With the door open the key may be inserted in the lock cylinder and the latter as well as the stern 71 turned a quarter turn to the position shown in Fig. 10 so that the set screw $1 will lie opposite and in line with an aperture 82 in the door jamb 22. A screw driver 83 is then Yinserted through the aperture 82 and operated to loosen the set lscrew 81 and then shift the element 80 on the stem 71 so as to position it in contact with flange 36a. Thereupon the set screw is tightened to secure the element in properly adjusted Xed position on the stem 71. The key may then be turned back to `position the stern 71 with its dat side up and the set screw facing upwardly as shown in Figs. 2 and 7.

lIt will be understood that the stem 71 may be normally arranged so that its at sides extend vertically with the set screw 81 normally facing the aperture 82, as in Fig. 1l. Moreover, in the case of door locks not utilizing a key controlled meansthe stem 71 will be secured directly to the push button 64 and the crank arm 76 for raising and lowering the slide 46 will be omitted. As in Fig. ll, the thrust element may be mounted on the end of the stem 71 and may be adjustably secured thereto, as described above, by means of the set screw 81.

In the embodiment of Fig. ll the blocking projection 47 on the slide 46 is omitted and the lever 33 in this instance may be blocked by means of a link 34 controlled by the sli-de 46. This link is pivoted intermediate its ends on a stud 85 secured to the oase plate A24. The link has an arm 84a adapted to be moved into position to lie between the stud 85 and yange 36a of lever 33. The link also has an inwardly extending arm 8417 projecting into an aperture 86 in the slide 46 and thereby interiocked with the slide. The case plate flange 25 may have a clearance slot 87 for'the end of the arm 84h to accommod-ate its movement. Upon shifting the slide 46 upward 1y, `as in the manner described in connection either with the embodiment of Figs. l to 4 inclusive or the embodiment of Fig. 12,'the arm 8411 will be swung up to the dotted line position in Fig. 1l by the .slide 46 thereby ,interposing the arm `84a between the xed stud 85 and the flange 36a ofthe release lever, las also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1l. The lever 33 will then be blocked by the arm $4a and stud S. Reverse movement of the slide 46 will, of course, restore the link 84 to its normal full line position and unblock the release lever. Other than above described, the latch mechanism in the embodiment of Fig. ll may be the same as in thegprevious embodiments.

In the present embodiments of the invention the rotary toothed latch `or bolt 26 is actuated when the door is closed by means of a striker or keeper member S8 which overlies the latch bolt 26 when the door is in closed position. The keeper member 8S forms fthe overhanging top portion of a unitary frame member 89 of generally `Gashape in cross-section, this frame member 89 being secured by means of screws 90 to the jamb face of the door pillar 23. The overhanging striker or keeper portion of the frame member 89 is formed at its lower edge with two integral spaced tooth-like projections 91 and 92 with which the teeth 26a of the latch bolt mesh to hold the door in either a final or safety locking position. When an adjacent pair of teeth 26a embrace and engage the tooth 91 the door is in safety locking position, and when an adjacent pair of teeth 26a engage yand embrace the tooth 92, `as shown in Fig. 5, the latch bolt is in final locking position.

ln order to maintain the teeth of the bolt firmly in engagement with the tooth 92 of the striker or keeper and to prevent vertical movement of the door during operation of the vehicle, cooperating wedge members are provided on the door and body pillar. ln the present instance a wedge member 93 is slidably mounted on the bottom surface 94 of the opening in the C-shaped frame member 89. This wedge member is guided in its sliding movement by a rod 9S secured at its outer end to an abutment 89a on the frame member 89 and 'at its rear end to the back wall of this member. In order to resiliently urge the wedge member 93 in an outward direction along its supporting surface 94 a coil spring 96 is mounted on the rod 95 and extends into a recess in the wedge member, the spring being interposed between the base of the recess and the back wall of the frame 89.

The cooperating wedge member on the door comprises a casing 97 which is rigidly secured to the jamb edge 22 of the door and which embraces the lower portion of the bolt 26. The bottom wall 98 of the casing 97 is arcuate in shape and is adapted to engage a correspondingly shaped curved upper surface 93a of the wedge member 93 when the door is closed.

It will be apparent from the foregoing construction that on closing the door the cooperative engagement of the curved bottom wall 98 of the casing 97 with the correspondingly curved upper surface 93a of the wedge 93 will result in taking up any play between the latch bolt and striker tooth 92, thus ensuring tight and nal engagement of the bolt and striker when the door is fully closed.

For most eticient openation the latch bolt and keeper are Iarranged so that the path of travel of the latch bolt is substantially at right angles to the hinge axis of the door. It will be readily seen that any variations in this angular relationship will be compensated for in the present device without impairing the efficiency of operation since the `arcuate bottom wall 98 of the wedge easing 97 will cooperate effectively with the correspondingly curved surface 93a of wedge 93 regardless of variations in the relationship of the hinge axis of the door to the striker body 89.

I claim:

l. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a main pontion for :disposition at the free edge wall of the door and terminating at its inner edge in a flange portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said main portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said main portion, said detent means having an arm engageable with said latch device for holding the same in latch ing position, a generally vertically extending swinging lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said main portion and having a blocking portion, outer manually operable means for swinging the upper end of said lever toward said flange portion thereby swinging the lower end of the lever away from said flange portion, the lower end of said lever having ya part adapted to engage said detent means arm upon swinging movement of said lower end in one rotative direction away from said ange thereby to swing said `detent means in the same rotative direction to disengage it from the latch device, and inner manually openable means on said support having block 9 ing means positionable for engagement by said lever blocking portion to prevent swinging'movement of said lever and thereby render said lever inelective to disengage the detent from said latch device.

2. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a main portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door land terminating at its inner edge in a flange portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said main portion to rotate about an axis including a detent engageable member having a series of tooth-like abutments extending .around the periphery thereof, detent means pivotally mounted on said main portion including an arm engageable with any one of said abutments on said member for holding said latch device in latching position, a generally vertically extending swinging lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said main portion and having a blocking portion above its pivot, outer manually `operable means for swinging the upper end of said lever toward said llange portion thereby swinging the lower end of the lever away from said flange portion, the lower end of said lever having a part adapted to engage said detent means arm upon swinging movement of said lower end in one rotative direction away from said flange thereby to swing said detent means in the same rotative direction to disengage it from said member, and inner manually operable means on said flange portion having a blocking means positionable for engagement by said lever blocking portion to prevent swinging movement of the upper end of the lever toward said llange and thereby render said lever ineffective to disengage the detent from said member.

3. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a main portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and terminating at its inner edge in a llange portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said main portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said main portion, said detent means having an arm engageable with said latch device for holding the same in latching position, a generally vertically extending swinging lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said main portion and having a blocking portion, outer manually operable means for swinging the upper end of said lever toward said flange portion thereby swinging the lower end of the lever away from said ange portion, the lower end of said lever having a part adapted to engage said detent means arm upon swinging movement of said lower end in one rotative direction away from said flange thereby to swing said detent means in the same rotative direction to disengage it from the latch device, a vertically shiftable member slidably mounted on said ilange and having blocking means, and means for shifting said shiftable member to position said blocking means in blocking relation to said blocking portion thereby to block swinging movement of the upper end of said lever toward said ange.

4. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a main portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and terminating at its inner edge in a ilange portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said main portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said main portion, said detent means having an arm engageable with said latch device for holding the same in latching position, a generally vertically extending swinging lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said main portion and having a blocking portion above its pivot, outer manually operable means for swinging the upper end of said lever toward said ange portion thereby swinging the lower end of the lever away from said flange portion, the lower end of said lever having a part adapted to engage said detent means arm upon swinging movement of said lower end in one rotative direction away from said flange thereby to swing said detent means in the same rotative direction to disengage it from the latch device, and means for blocking said lever against swinging movement toward said ange including pivoted blocking means on said main portion, a vertically shiftable member on said ange portion having a part engageable with a part of said pivoted blocking means for shifting the same into and out of blocking position, and inner manually operable means for shifting said vertically shiftable member.

5. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having -a main portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and terminating at its inner edge in a llange portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said main portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said main portion and having an arm engageable with said latch device for holding the same in latching position, a generally vertically extending swinging lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said main portion and having a blocking portion above its pivot, outer manually operable means for swinging the upper end of said lever toward said ange portion thereby swinging the lower end of the lever away from said flange portion, the lower end of said lever having a part adapted to engage said detent means arm upon swinging movement of said lower end in one rotative direction away from said ilange thereby to swing said detent means in the same rotative direction to disengage it from the latch device, a vertically shiftable member mounted on said ange having blocking means, and means for shifting said shiftable member in one direction to position said blocking means in opposing relation to said blocking portion thereby to block swinging movement of said lever toward said ange, said detent means having a part engageable with said shiftable member for shifting the same in a direction opposite to said one direction.

6. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a main portion for disposition at the free edge wall `of the door and terminating at its inner edge in a ilange portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said main portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said main portion and having an arm engageable with said latch dev-ice for holding the same in latching position, a generally vertically extending swinging lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said main portion and having a blocking portion, push button means adapted to be mounted on the outer panel of said door for swinging the upper end of said lever toward said flange port-ion thereby swinging the lower end of the lever away from said flange portion, the lower end of said lever having a part adapted to engage said detent means arm upon swinging movement of said lower end in one rotative direction away from said ange thereby to swing said detent means in the :same rotative direction to disengage it from the latch device, inner manually operable means movably mounted on said flange having blocking means positionable in opposing relation to said blocking portion to prevent swinging movement of said lever, and means for shifting said -inner manually operable means to position said blocking means in opposed relation to said blocking portion and including a key operated device mounted in said push button means and having a part extending toward said ilange and operatively connected to said inner manually operable means.

7. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a llange extending angularly from said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate portion and having a blocking portion, detent means engageable with said latch device for hold. ing it in door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever, said lever at one side of the pivotal axis thereof being provided with a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut the same at the same side of the pivotal axes of said lever and'detent means upon swinging movement of said lever in one rotative direction thereby to pivotally move said 11 detentmeans in the ,-samerotative ,direction out of hold- .ing position with .respectrto said latch device, `outer ,manu- :ally `operable .means cooperable with .said lever lat the ,other-side of the pivotal yaxis thereof for swinging thesame in said one rotative direction, a member movably mounted .onrsaid support and having blocking means for cooperation withsaid blocking portion, and inner manually operable lmeans "for moving said member to dispose said blocking means in opposing relation to said blocking portion thereby to block swingingmovement of said lever insaid one rotative direction and render the same incitactive to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device.

8. ,In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door :jamb and having a ange extending angularly from said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, a :lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate portion, a tlange on saidleverproviding a blocking portion, detent means engageable with said latch device forholding itin door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever, said lever at .one side of the pivotal axis thereof being provided with a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent vmeans to abut the same at the same side of the pivotal axes of said lever and detent means upon swinging movement of said lever in one rotative direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device, outer manually operable .means cooperable with said lever at the other side of the pivotal axis thereof for swinging the same in said one rotative direction, a blocking member pivoted on said plate portion intermediate its ends to provide two ann portions, on arm portion having blocking means for cooperation with said blocking portion, and inner manually operable means acting on said other arm portion for swinging said blocking member to dispose said blocking means in opposing relation to said blocking portion thereby to block swinging movement of said lever in said one rotative direction and render the same ineiective to move said ,detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device.

9. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a iange extending angularly from said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate portion and having a blocking portion, detent means engageable with said latch device I for holding it in door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever, said lever at one side of the pivotal axis thereof being provided with a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut the same at the same side of the pivotal axes of said lever and detent means upon swinging movement of said lever in one rotative direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device, outer manually operable means cooperable with said lever at the other side of the pivotal axis thereof for swinging the same in said one rotative direction, a blocking -member pivoted on said plate portion intermediate its ends to provide two arm portions, one arm portion having blocking means for cooperation with said blocking portion, and inner manually operable means mounted on said flange portion and having an interlocked connection with said other arm portion for swinging said blocking member to dispose said blocking means in opposing relation to said blocking portion thereby to block swinging movement of said lever in said one rotative direction and render the same ineffective to move said detent means out Y,of holdingposition with krrespect to :said latch device.

l0. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a .plate portion for disposition at lthe door ljamb and :having a flange extending angularly from said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on .said plateportion, ,an ontermanually operable lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate portion and having a blocking portieri, detent means engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate ,portion to swing independently of said lever, said lever at one side of the .pivotal axis thereof being provided with a part arranged in opposing relation to a lpart of said detent .means to abut the same at the same side of the ,pivotal laxes of -said lever and detent means upon swinging movement of said lever in lone rotative direction thereby .to pivotally move said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a member movably mounted on said support and .having blocking means for cooperation with said ,blocking portion, inner manually operable means for moving ,saidmembcr to dispose said blocking means in opposing .relation to said blocking portion thereby to block swingingmovement of said lever in said one rotative direction and render the same ineective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect ,to said .latch device, and inner manually operable bell crank means pivotally mounted on said flange portion having a rst portion thereof in opposing relation to a rpart of said detent means and a second portion adapted to be in opposing relation to a part of said inner manually operable means when the latter has been actuated to .dispose said blocking means in opposing relation to said blocking portion whereby upon swinging movement ot' said bell crank means said irst and second portions ktl'iereof will abut the respective parts of the detent means and inner manually operable means to simultaneously disengage the detent meansfrom said latch .device and move said blocking means out of opposing relation to said blocking portion.

ll. 'in a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate ,portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a flange extending angularly from said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, an 'outer manually operable lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate portion and having a blocking portion at one side of the pivotal axis thereof, detent means engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever, the end of said lever at the other side of the pivotal axis thereof being provided with a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detentmeans to abut the same at the same side of the pivotal axes of'said lever vand detent means upon swinging movement of said lever in one rotative direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means in the same rotative direction yont of holding position with respect to said latch device, manually operable means cooperable with said lever Vat said vone side of the pivotal axis thereof for swinging the same in said one rotative direction, a member movably mounted on said support and having blocking means for cooperation with Asaid blocking portion, and inner manually operable means for moving said member to dispose said blocking means in opposing lrelation to said blocking portion thereby to block swinging movement of-said lever in said one rotative direction and render kthe same ineffective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device.

l2. ln ,a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate vportion for disposition at the door jamb .and having a flange extending yfrom the inner edge of said jplate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion, 4an arm on said lever, youter manually operable means engageable with said arm for swinging said lever in one direction of rotation about its pivot axis, a

detent pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever and engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, said lever and said detent each having an arm extending substantially in the same direction, said last mentioned lever arm having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent arm to abut the same upon swinging movement of said lever in said one direction of rotation thereby to pivotally move said detent in the same direction of rotation ont of holding position with respect to said latch device, a link pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate portion and having a part on one end shiftable into position to block swinging movement of said lever in said one direction, and inner manually operable means engageable with the other end of said link to pivot the same to dispose said link part in position to block said lever.

13. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a flange extending from the inner edge of said portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion, an arm on said lever, outer manually operable means engageable with said arm for swinging said lever in one direction about its pivot axis, a detent pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever and engageable with ,said latch device for holding it in door latching position, said lever having a part below its pivot axis arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent to abut the same upon swinging movement of said lever in said one direction thereby to pivotal- 1y move said detent in the same direction about its pivot axis out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a link pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having a part shiftable into position to block swinging movement of said lever in said one direction, and inner manually operable means shiftable in one direction for disposing said link part in position to block said lever, said detent having a part positioned to lie in abutting relation to a part of said inner manually operable means after the latter has been shifted in said one direction, said detent part being adapted upon pivotal movement of the detent to engage said part of the inner manually operable means to shift the latter in the opposite direction and thereby shift the blocking member out of blocking position, such pivotal movement of the detent occurring upon rotation of the latch member as it engages a striker device as the door is moved to a closed position.

14. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and terminating at its inner edge in a flange portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion for holding said latch device against rotation in its unlatching direction, a generally vertically extending swinging lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate portion, the pivot axis of said lever being spaced from the pivot axis of said latch device, means for swinging the upper end of said lever in one direction thereby swinging the lower end of the lever away from the pivot axis of said latch device, said lower end of the lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to said detent means and effective to abut said detent means to pivotally move the same out of holding position with respect to said latch device upon swinging said lever in said one direction, a member extending in a generally horizontal direction and pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate portion having a part on one end thereof swingable into position to block swinging movement of said lever in said one direction, and means engageable with the other end of said last named member for pivotally actuating the same, said detent means at all times being pivotally movable independently of actuation by said lever in response to rotation of the latch device by engagement with a keeper device upon closing the door.

15. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and terminating at its inner edge in a flange portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion, deten-t means pivotally mounted on said plate portion for holding said latch device against rotation in its unlatching direction, a generally vertically extending swinging lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate portion, the pivot axis of said lever being spaced from the pivot axis of said latch device, means for swinging the upper end of said lever in one direction thereby swinging the lower end of the lever away from the pivot axis of said latch device, said lever having a part below its pivot axis arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut the same upon swinging movement of said lever in said one direction thereby to pivotally move said detent in the same direction about its pivot axis out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a member extending in a generally horizontal direction and pivotally mounted intermediate i-ts ends on said plate portion having a part on one end thereof swingable into position to block swinging movement of said lever in said one direction, and means engageable with the other end of said last named member for pivotally actuating the same, said detent means at all times being pivotally movable independently of actuation by said lever in response to rotation of the latch device by engagement with a keeper device upon closing the door.

16. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a main portion for disposition at the free edge wall of the door and terminating at its inner edge in a ilange portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said main portion, detent means pivotally mounted on said main portion and having an arm engageable with said latch device for holding the same in latching position, a generally vertically extending swinging lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said main portion and having a blocking portion, push button means adapted to be mounted on the outer panel of the door for swinging the upper end of said lever toward said flange portion thereby swinging the lower end away from said ange portion, Ithe lower end of said lever having a part adapted to engage said detent means arm upon swinging movement of said lower end in one rotative direction away from said ange thereby to swing said detent means in the same rotative direction to disengage it from the latch device, a blocking member pivoted on said plate portion having blocking means positionable in opposing relation to said blocking portion to prevent swinging movement of said lever, and means for shifting said blocking member to position said blocking means in opposed relation to said blocking portion.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 150,216 Almonte Apr. 28, 1874 1,547,210 Garrett Iuly 28, 1925 1,789,775 Russ et al. Ian. 20, 1931 2,094,413 Schonitzer Sept. 28, 1937 2,189,992 Pearce Feb. 13, 1940 2,234,810 Simpson Mar. 11, 1941 2,256,909 Rightmyer Sept. 23, 1941 2,270,559 Rolph et al Ian. 20, 1942 2,301,559 Marple Nov. 10, 1942 2,394,646 Wagner Feb. l2, 1946 

